Industrial truck



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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1919.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

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INDUSTRIAL TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1919.

1,391,699. PatentedSept. 27,1921.

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INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1919.

1,391,699. PatentedSept. 27,1921.

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3&1 @Mozmeq I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SCHROEDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KARRY-LODEINDUSTRIAL TRUCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application filed June 20, 1919. Serial No. 305,582.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ScHRoEDnR, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in an Industrial Truck, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to industrial trucks, and has for its object toprovide a simple, light and lowpriced construction that is flexib e, andwill permit the weaving of the parts to prevent the localization ofshocks, while withstanding hard usage.

The usual form of construction of industrial truck provides a rigidchannel frame with bracing, supporting a platform. Such construction isheavy, while the rigid frame tends to localize the jars and shocks, sothat spring suspension is usually required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable step anda brake pedal that may be folded with the step without affecting thebrake.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon:

Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a truck embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section along the line 2--2 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a top view,with parts broken out to show the arrangement of the stiffeners and thelocation of the power plant. Fig. 4 is a broken view in side elevationof a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a top view, partly brokenaway to show a four wheel steering mechanism.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to use a plate of preferablydiamond corrugated sheet steel bent down at each side substantially atright angles to form a flexible platform and to utilize this platform asa frame. By doing so, I lighten the weight of the truck about600,pounds, in one common size, and cheapen the cost. The platform actslike a huge gusset, as it is very flexible, to distribute the shocks andjars and to prevent their localization. As the truck is driven overinequalities of the ground or shop floor the flexible platform will warpor weave so that the wheels do not leave the ground. In order to permitthe truck body to weave and to prevent the stresses that might affectthe power plant, batteries and other parts, due to this weaving, Isupport the platform upon the axles through interposed angle stiffeners,and hang the unit removable power plant on the axle, with no support atthe forward end of the power plant in order to prevent the transmissionof the stresses set up in the platform as it warps or weaves to thepower plant and to prevent the bending moment of the power plant frombeing transmitted and localized upon a small area of the platform. Thebatteries are spring supported from the platform in a bell mouthedpocket formed by the unconnected longitudinaland transverse stiffeners.

lVhile, therefore, I have shown and will now describe my invention in apreferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that I do not desireto be limited. or restricted in respect to thespecific details shown,nor do I desire to be limited to a two wheel drive as the constructionof the truck is such that it is readily adapted to a four wheel drive.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the flexible steel platform; 2 are caststeel end pieces that act as stifieners to the platform and also as endbuffers; angle iron stiffeners 3 are riveted to the platform. Theplatform is diamond corrugated to lend stilfness to the sheet metal. Theangle irons-3 do not run the full length of the platform but stop justbeyond the wheels 4 and 5. Between angle irons 3 and parallel theretoare separate longitudinal bell mouthed stiffeners 58 bolted toplatform 1. Separate transverse bell mouthed stiffeners 10 are likewisebolted to the platform 1 and in conjunction with the longitudinal bellmouthed stifl'eners form a pocket for the battery 21. The power plant issupported at one point only. Upon the underside of forward axle 6 andintegral therewith. and about the center thereof is a plate 11, to whichis bolted a plate 12, forming a part of the differential transmissionhousing 13. The forward end of the transmission housing 13 also carriesa plate 14, integral therewith, to which is bolted a corresponding plate15 of the motor casing 16. Attached to the forward end of the armatureshaft 17 is a brake drum 18 adapted to rotate therewith. Armature shaft17, at its rear end, carries a bevel gear adapted to drive through atrain of gears 59 the conventional form of differential. Live axles 20are of the full floating type and drive the wheels 4 through hub caps19.. The live axles 2O carry knuckle joints 62 to permit steering on allfour wheels and have squared ends adapted to fit into the differentialand to be driven thereby. The wheels 4 and 5, rotate on single ballbearings 63, and are of metal disk construction. The dead axles 6 arebolted to angle irons 3 with space 8 between the top of the axles andthe platform. Such construction localizes in the axle structure thestresses set up by the power plant.

The integral platform and frame necessitate the provision of a batteryelevating means, as the conventional cut out portion and cover in theplatform to permit the insertion of the battery, its inspection andfilling, would destroy the characterization of applicants sheet metalplatform and integral frame.

Attached to batteries 21 are wheels 22 and forked spring seat members23. Rods 24, havihg hooks at one end and spring collars at the otherend, pass through springs 25. Attached to rods 24 are chains 26 whichare wound up on rods 27 by means of a removable crank handle 28. The camand gravity actuated latch 61 on rod 27 prevent the unwinding of chains26. The latch 61 is released from the cam by a slight rotation of thehandle 28 which causes the bent end of the latch to rise from thedepression in the cover and then by a fairly rapid reverse rotation ofthe handle 28 the chains 26 may be made to unwind from rods 27. The bentend of the latch 61 slides over the cover without engaging thedepression during this more rapid reverse rotation. The batteries 21 arefirmly held under spring suspension in the bell mouthed pocket formed bvthe stiffeners 10 and 58, which, being independent, are free to weavewith the warping of platform 1.

Bolted to front buffer 2 and to platform 1 is a drivers platformcomprising a back plate 29 and hinged step 30 made of the same -materialas platform 1. Back plate 29 carries controller 31, controller handle 32and steering handle 33 pivoted at 34: to rock lever 35. The steering ison all four wheels, see Fig. 5, through handle 32, lever 35, rocker 36,link 37, rocker arm 38, drag link 39, rocker arm 10, link 41 and rockerarm 42 for front wheels 4: thence through rocker arm 43 drag link 44 torocker arm 45 drag link 46 to rocker arm 47 for rear wheels 5. In theform shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 drag link 9 corresponds to link it but itruns longitudinally instead of across the platform.

The step 30 is hinged to back plates 29 by rod 48. The brake pedal 49 isforked at its rear end and when pressed down by the operators footengages brake lever 50 and when raised with step 30 folds up against theback plate 29 without touching brake lever 50. Spring 51 is attached at52 to back plate 29 and normally operates to maintain contracting brakeband 53 in frictional engagement with brake drum 18, through link 54.crank 55, and toggle 56.

In the modified form, see Figs. l and 5. the flexible platform 1 is bentforward of the mid-section to form a low platform truck.

In this type of truck, the rear wheels 5 are of smaller diameter, thebatteries are not slung under the flexible platform 1 but are carriedover the front wheels at, and the stiffening has been changed. Thebatteries are spring restrained to platform 58 of the same material andconstruction as platform 1 and inclosed by plates 59. Platform 58 andhousing plates 59 are bolted to platform 1 and back plate 29. Housingplates 59 serve as gussets to stiffen platform 58 and back plate 29 andthe abutment-portion of platform 1. The stiffening of the lower platform1 is accomplished by longitudinal angle irons 3 to which the rear axleis bolted. \Vhen the platform is bent the turned down sides must firstbe cut at 5'7 and as the bending takes place the cut in the sides opensup and gussets are welded in in order to have continuous sides.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide anexceedingly simple construction of truck that is light and yet strongand one which is flexible and of low priced construction.

Having now set forth the obiect and nature of my invention and variousarrangements embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels independently securedto said platform adja-. cent each end, and longitudinal interntediatestiffening means carried by said platform.

2. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels independently securedto said platform adjacent each end, and disconnected longitudinalintermediate stiffening means carried by said platform adjacent eachaxle.

3. K power driven industrial truck comprislng a flexible platform,longitudinal intermediate stiffeners for said platform. an axle carryingwheels rigidly attached to said stitfeners adjacent each end of the.platform, a propelling motor attached at one end to one of said axlesand unsupported at the other.

4. A power driven dirigible, industrial truck having a flexibleplatform, separate longitudinal intermediate stiffeners for saidplatform, independent axles attached to said stiffeners, wheels for saidaxles and one of said axles carrying a propelling motor.

5. An industrial truck comprising a flexible sheet metal platform havingintegral, downwardly bent sides, and castings secured to the ends ofsaid platform between said sides, and axles carrying wheelsindependently carried by said platform adjacent the ends.

6. An industrial truck comprising a flexible sheet metal platformcomposed of a sheet having sides bent at an angle to form a flexiblelongitudinal stiffening, interior longitudinal intermediate stiffeningmeans adjacent each end permitting limited intermediate flexibility ofthe platform, and an axle carrying wheels independently secured to saidplatform adjacent each end between said interior stiffening means.

7. In a truck comprising a flexible platform, wheels and axles adjacentthe ends thereof, driving means mounted on an axle, and angle ironsinterposed between the axles and the platform to distribute the stressesdue to the driving means set up in said platform.

8. In a power driven truck comprising a flexible platform, stifl'eners,axles, wheels and driving means therefor, the said stiffeners and axlesecured to said platform to permit the platform to warp in order tomaintain the said wheels upon the ground when driven by said drivingmeans over inequalities of the ground.

9. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, wheels andaxles, power transmission means, and a unit removable power plantsuspended from one of said axles.

10. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, angle ironintermediate stiffeners, forward and rearward dead axles bolted to saidstifl'eners, wheels for said axles, a unit removable power plant boltedto said forward dead axle, full floating live axles from said powerplant for power transmission to said wheels,

11. In a truck comprising a flexible steel platform, wheels supportingsaid platform, axles separately attached to the platform for saidwheels, means hung from an axle and unsupported at the forward end fordriving the truck.

12. In an electric industrial truck comprising a flexible platform,reversible driving means and spring sup orted batteries therefor, bellmouthed stifl eners separably attached to said platform to permit thewarping of said platform and forming a pocket for said batteries.

13. In a truck comprising a weavable platform formed by sheet steel bentdown at sides, and independent intermediate longitudinal and transversestiifeners for said platform.

14. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, formed ofsheet metal with downwardly; turned sides, end stiffeners therefor,intermediate longitudinal and transverse stiifeners for said platform,axles attached to said platform, wheels supporting said axles and acantaliver axle supported removable power plant for driving said truck.

15. An industrial truck having a metal plate bent down at the sidesthereof, to form a flexible integral frame and platform, stiffeners forsaid platform independent axles carried by said stiffeners and wheelsfor said axles.

16. A springless four wheel industrial truck comprising a rigid axle ateach end, wheels on the ends of the axles, those on at least one of saidaxles being dirigibleand a load carrying platform connected to saidaxles by rigid connections and having provision for warping to respondto inequalities of the supporting surface.

17/A springless four wheel industrial truck having a sheet metalplatform with integral bent sides, an independent axle and .wheels ateach end, and unconnected intermediate longitudinal and transversestiffening means attached to said platform.

18. A springless four wheel industrial truck having a sheet metalplatform with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels unit, one at eachend independently connected to the platform, a unit removable powerplant supported at one end by one of saidaxles and unsupported at theother.

19. In an electric industrial truck comprising a sheet metal platform,driving means and spring supported batteries therefor, bell mouthedstifl'eners separably attached to said platform and forming a springpocket for said batteries.

20. In an electric industrial truck comprising a flexible platform,driving means, spring supported batteries, bell mouthed stiffenersseparably attached to said platform and forming a spring pocket. forsaid batteries, and means for elevating and main.- taining saidbatteries in said pocket.

21. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal, wheeled supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, andlongitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto atpoints intermediate said supporting means, permitting said platform towarp without sagging between said supporting means.

22. An industrial truck having a. flexible platform composed of shectmetal, an axle adjacent each of the ends of said platform for supportingthe same, wheels carried upon the ends of said axles, and longitudinalstiffening means for said platform at tached thereto at pointsintermediate said axles, permitting said platform to warp withoutsagging between said axles.

23, An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal, wheeled supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, andlongitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto atpoints intermediate said supporting means, said stiffening meansterminating short of said supporting means, permitting said platform towarp without sagging between said supporting means.

24. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal,an axle adjacent each of the ends of said platform for supportingthe same, wheels carried upon the ends of said axles, discontinuouslongitudinal stiffening means over each of said axles, and secured tosaid axles and to said platform, and longitudinal stiffening means forsaid platform attached thereto at oints intermediate said axles, andterminating short of said axles, permitting said platform to warpwithout sagging between said axles.

25. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheetmetal with integral bent sides, an axle adjacent each of the ends ofsaid platform for supporting the same, wheels carried upon the ends ofsaid axles, and discontinuous longitudinal stiffening means for saidplatform attached thereto, permitting said platform to warp withoutsagging between said axles.

Signed at New 'York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 18. day of June, A. D. 1919.

WILLIAM SCHROE i) E It.

